President Donald Trump says Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will leave his post on Jan. 1. Trump announced Mattis' new departure date in a tweet, and said he's naming deputy defense chief Patrick Shanahan as acting secretary.

Chris

12-23-2018, 11:52 AM

Can he resign when the government is shut down?

MisterVeritis

12-23-2018, 11:53 AM

Can he resign when the government is shut down?
Yes.

MMC

12-23-2018, 12:05 PM

Trump forces Mattis out.

The Demos and the leftness wont like that. Means they can't hold up a New SOD pick for awhile.

HumblePi

12-23-2018, 12:12 PM

The selection of Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to the position leaves some people with questions about his interests. Patrick Shanahan comes from Boeing and the U.S. government has had a problem with Boeing over the production of the KC-46 Pegasus. The U.S. Air Force has had technical issues with the KC-46 tanker’s and these have delayed the acquisitions.

MMC

12-23-2018, 12:12 PM

Can he resign when the government is shut down?

He could but Trump is firing him. Its a smart move by Trump. Takes a lot of windage away from the Lame Stream Media and the Democrats. Forcing them to get their panties all in a ruffle with something else.

Plus he is putting the Neo Cons on notice. Bolton better watch what he says to Trump. Or he will be next.

Tahuyaman

12-23-2018, 12:28 PM

The selection of Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to the position leaves some people with questions about his interests. Patrick Shanahan comes from Boeing and the U.S. government has had a problem with Boeing over the production of the KC-46 Pegasus. The U.S. Air Force has had technical issues with the KC-46 tanker’s and these have delayed the acquisitions.

OK. And? Is there a conspiracy theory here?

Tahuyaman

12-23-2018, 12:30 PM

Can he resign when the government is shut down?
What would prevent that? Besides, government isn't shut down.

Beevee

12-23-2018, 12:31 PM

He could but Trump is firing him. Its a smart move by Trump. Takes a lot of windage away from the Lame Stream Media and the Democrats. Forcing them to get their panties all in a ruffle with something else.

Plus he is putting the Neo Cons on notice. Bolton better watch what he says to Trump. Or he will be next.

Only in America can the president fire someone after he has resigned.

MisterVeritis

12-23-2018, 12:36 PM

The selection of Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to the position leaves some people with questions about his interests. Patrick Shanahan comes from Boeing and the U.S. government has had a problem with Boeing over the production of the KC-46 Pegasus. The U.S. Air Force has had technical issues with the KC-46 tanker’s and these have delayed the acquisitions.
In my opinion, Northrop Grumman should have won that bid. NGC had the better proposal and better offer.

Beevee

12-23-2018, 12:38 PM

In my opinion, Northrop Grumman should have won that bid. NGC had the better proposal and better offer.

I trust the information you have just supplied was not part of your NDA.

MisterVeritis

12-23-2018, 12:40 PM

I trust the information you have just supplied was not part of your NDA.
No. But I was very aware of the process.

MMC

12-23-2018, 12:42 PM

The selection of Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to the position leaves some people with questions about his interests. Patrick Shanahan comes from Boeing and the U.S. government has had a problem with Boeing over the production of the KC-46 Pegasus. The U.S. Air Force has had technical issues with the KC-46 tanker’s and these have delayed the acquisitions.

Who are some people? Leftists? Neo Cons? Shanahan is Deputy SOD. He also backs Trumps Space Force.

2. What’s his philosophy?

In an interview with Defense News, Shanahan said “he believes his job is to ‘operationalize’ (https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/12/21/with-mattis-out-is-shanahan-poised-to-rewire-the-pentagon/) the National Defense Strategy, ‘driving systemic change — rewiring the organization to increase our performance on lethality, alliances, and reform’.”

“Too often we focus on process, or budget, or level of effort,” Shanahan said, according to Defense News. “The Pentagon should focus on outcomes and outputs — our performance. This focus on performance should drive us to field unmatched lethality, execute on our modernization plans and achieve this affordably’.” …..snip~